Cancer Claims “Hot Rod” Williams at Age 53

Former Tulane and Cleveland Cavaliers star John "Hot Rod" Williams died Friday morning at his home in Sorrento after a battle with cancer.  He was 53.

Williams was charged with five counts of point shaving while at Tulane, which resulted in the basketball program being voluntarily shut down for four years back in the mid-80's.  Williams was tried twice on the charges; the first ended in a mistrial, the second in acquittal.

Williams was one of the NBA's best sixth men while in Cleveland, playing behind Larry Nance and Brad Daugherty.  He averaged 16.8 points and 8.1 rebounds per game as a reserve.

After that season, Williams signed one of the most lucrative contracts in NBA history.  The Miami Heat signed him to a seven year, $26.5 million offer sheet, which paid him five million dollars in the first year.  That was the biggest contract in the NBA, paying Williams twice as much as MIchael Jordan.  Cleveland matched Miami's offer and Williams stayed with the Cavs.

The Cavaliers won 50 or more games three times while Williams played, but were eliminated by the Chicago Bulls in the playoffs all three times.